The award traditionally announces a 23-man shortlist, so by giving the winner 23 points, the runner-up 22 and so on down to one point for the player in 23rd place, it is possible to work out who has excelled most since 2007 (thanks to Reddit user Malalatargaryen for the research).

Using this method of calculating the best players in the world, Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney places 13th, behind Liverpool legend Luis Suarez, Chelsea hero Didier Drogba and current team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among others.